John Birmingham

@birmo.bsky.social

9012 Followers 1154 Following

I write for food and shelter.

A black Volvo EX30 charges at a fast charger before dawn, its bright LED headlights cutting through the darkness while the charging station glows red behind it. The empty EV bays, quiet suburban surroundings, and faint glow on the horizon capture the stillness of an early morning departure. Taken during a road trip to Stanthorpe, the image reflects one of the small rituals of long distance EV travel, stopping to recharge while the rest of the world is still asleep.
A black Volvo EX30 charges at a fast charging station in the quiet pre dawn darkness of a shopping centre car park in Mittagong. The nearly empty car park is lit by streetlights and the glowing signs of stores in the distance, while the charging cable connects the SUV to the charger. The scene captures the calm rhythm of a long distance EV road trip, an early morning pause between Melbourne and Brisbane, with the world still asleep and only the soft hum of the charger marking the journey north.
A copy of the latest Quarterly Essay Rests on JBs knee while his dog snores in front of the heater on a cold winter day
A close up of a blush pink Cosmo served in an elegant coupe glass, topped with a thin slice of dried citrus. The drink sits on a polished wooden table beside a frosty glass of lime and mint, with a sparkling water bottle and restaurant scene softly blurred in the background. The shallow focus gives everything a relaxed, indulgent afternoon glow, capturing the precise moment when JB gets his drink on.
A promotional graphic announces the upcoming release of The Forever Dead by John Birmingham, arriving October 13, 2026. Against a muted blue background, the book cover shows a dramatic space battle, with massive starships clashing amid explosions, energy trails, and a fiery orange sky. The title dominates the lower half in large white lettering, with the author’s name beneath. The image has the polished feel of a major space opera release, promising large scale conflict, impossible odds, and the sort of day where everybody in orbit wishes they’d stayed in bed.
Maggie, a pale yellow Labrador, sleeps deeply on an oversized grey dog bed while a small electric fireplace glows warmly nearby. Sunlight spills across polished wooden floors and soft furnishings, giving the room a calm, post storm coziness. A little side table with books and a potted plant adds to the peaceful atmosphere. Maggie appears utterly content, stretched out in the universal pose of a dog who has decided the crisis is over and further vigilance can safely be delegated to JB
JBs Labrador, freaked out by a thunderstorm lies under a patterned quilt while Willow the cat perches on her back and stares directly at the camera
A crystal martini glass sits beside an open box of dark chocolates dusted with sea salt, arranged neatly on a black desk in front of a softly glowing laptop screen. The background falls out of focus, creating a late night writer’s workspace atmosphere, equal parts disciplined productivity and “just one more paragraph, and maybe one more chocolate.” A turquoise booklet labeled Praline Library rests beside the box, adding a splash of colour to the otherwise dark, cinematic scene.
JB sits in a leather armchair before towering floor to ceiling bookshelves, wearing a red satin smoking jacket and reading a bright green copy of The Tasmanian Babes Fiasco. Warm sunlight spills across the room, illuminating rows of meticulously arranged hardcovers, a globe on a polished wooden cabinet, and a framed family photograph nearby.
Crazy conspiracy wall guy explains it all.
Willow the cat totally owning the bench in JBs home gym.
A very Smokey martini
Picture of a news headline: Littleproud says Iranian footballers shouldn’t bring the values of tyranny into the country. Not pictured, the gigantic flaccid penis, emerging from his head while he spoke.
An intimate restaurant interior with red tablecloths, candlelit tables, and guests dining around a bar area with a large handwritten chalkboard menu. Warm yellow lighting, wooden furniture, and decorative red balloons create a cozy evening atmosphere.
A condensation-covered martini glass with a lemon twist sits on a wooden table beside a small bowl of nuts, while Hue’s panoramic nighttime cityscape glows in soft, colorful bokeh beyond a large window
JB and a giant Korean rabbit
Sc sign: No weapons allowed
JB’s dangerously tasty cocktail rests in a massive balloon of a glass. It’s early in the night. The bar is quiet. This won’t last.
An open blue cooler crammed with ice, champagne, wine, and beer, quietly announcing that hydration is not the priority today
A crispy pile of fries and a burger wrapped in red-and-white paper, a can of craft beer, and The Saturday Paper, suggesting the owner plans to balance carbs with current affairs in the most Australian way possible. Also, JB’s wife might be elsewhere
A tin of beer
WTC Cat says WTF
A mildly outraged cat emerging from a blue bag, clearly wondering what life choices led to this moment
Bookface shopfront at Pacific Fair.
A chilled golden cocktail sits in a squat glass atop a chunky ice block, crowned with a lone star anise like a tiny naval compass. It rests on a bar coaster under warm bar lights, a quiet invitation to sip and let the night slow down
Prince Harry, I reckon, waiting for the bus.
The cover of JB's latest book, World War 3.2, which you should really buy because it's got time travel and splodey goodness and Joe McCarthy dick jokes.
Ted, a large golden Labrador has crammed himself into a tiny gray cat bed, curled up like a croissant that’s outgrown the pastry tray. He’s fast asleep, blissfully ignoring the laws of physics and personal space
Disgracefully mess bookshelves
A cozy home office with a minimalist setup. On the left, a wall-mounted desk holds a computer with a microphone arm, papers, and a few small items. A second desk by a large window looks out to green trees, with a chair and shelves of neatly stacked papers beneath it. A small modern painting hangs on the wall above the desk. To the right, a low square window frames leafy branches outside. On the floor, a cowhide rug sits beneath a black leather recliner and footrest. A whiteboard leans against the wall nearby, and a balance board rests on the floor near the computer desk
The cover of JB's new book. World War 3.2. It's a fucking tank and a missile launcher and they're throwing down, bro and it's fuckin' awesome innit.